Bost calls for firing of key Marion VAMC department head

Nearly six months after his initial inquiry into reported problems at the Marion Veterans' Administration Medical Center, congressman Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro) is calling on VA Secretary David Shulkin to fire the Marion VA's human resources director.

Bost, a member of the subcommittee on oversight and investigations, and the subcommittee chairman, Michigan congressman Jack Bergman, wrote to Shulkin on Jan. 23, saying, "Marion's dysfunctions have been exposed for all to see."

"Our heroes deserve the best care possible, and unqualified leadership in the HR department at Marion prevents that from happening," said Bost. "That's why I have appealed directly to the VA Secretary to get an HR team in place at Marion that can clean up the mess."

Bost said the letter specifically targets only the head of HR, and declined to identify the employee. The Marion Republican is attempting to reach the person it believes is the subject of Bost and Bergman's letter.

As of Thursday afternoon, Shulkin's office has not indicated whether it will comply with the demand to replace the Marion VA's human resources director.

Bost said the problems uncovered in the subcommittee's investigation include "grossly inconsistent salaries among staff, low morale and a lack of proper training and discipline." The HR department is failing in its core mission, he said.

Of the "numerous systemic issues" that the investigation uncovered, Bost and Bergman's letter to Shulkin details prolonged difficulties recruiting and retaining staff; failures to track and enforce training standards; and an inability to discipline employees

The letter said the subcommittee has been "candid" with the results of its investigation so far, sharing information with Shulkin, the Marion VAMC and the Veterans Integrated Service Network, but the problems persist.

Bost said Wednesday he and Bergman sent Shulkin the letter demanding action because they felt this one issue, above all others, needs to be addressed quickly.

"In the meeting we had (with Shulkin), we were expecting a clear response because of what we saw," Bost said. "Because nothing was done yet, we put it in writing. That was our next step."

Bost added, however, that the need to replace the human resources director is only one finding of the investigation. He said he will recommend to Bergman that the subcommittee continue to monitor the Marion VA's reported problems.

"However deep it goes, we want to find it out," he said Wednesday.

Bost acknowledged Wednesday that the Marion VAMC Director, Jo-Ann Ginsberg, is ultimately in charge of the facility. When asked if her job could be in jeopardy, Bost replied only that it was up to Shulkin.

Bost also said it was astonishing for him to discover that the Marion VAMC -- and other VAs around the country -- do not have basic job descriptions and expectations written up for leadership positions.

The longtime human resources director at Marion VA has no college degree, he pointed out.

"Can you imagine a large company not having a list of requirements?" for that job, asked Bost, who owned a trucking company. "I come from small business; I was shocked."

Bost said the failings not only create administrative problems but also directly affect employee morale and the hiring process.

He said he has no verified information that the human resources problems have directly caused a patient's care to be seriously compromised, but added it could come to that if inexperienced and/or unqualified people are working there.

He also pointed out that caring and qualified people might quit their jobs over frustration, and not be replaced.

"If you see a drop in personnel, quite often they are frustrated because they're seeing not quality care being given to our veterans," said Bost.

"We've got to look at the whole picture. Are there still people doing a good job there? Yes. Are there still people who care? Yes. Have there been failings? I believe there have been, yes."

Bost said the subcommittee's role is oversight.

"If you go in and discover a problem you have to offer a solution to fix it," he said. "Serious HR changes need to be made, and fast. Our veterans deserve better than this."